Tag: Gus Kenworthy

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Meet The 2018 Out Winter Olympians

Out U.S. Olympians – L to R – Adam Rippon, Brittany Bowe & Gus Kenworthy

With the 2018 Winter Olympics underway, the folks at OutSports.com have compiled a list of the 14 out athletes taking part in the games at PyeoungChang.

The list includes three Americans – freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, figure skater Adam Rippon and speedskater Brittany Bowe.

Brittany Bowe (U.S., speedskating): Bowe is a former inline skater who has excelled on the ice, setting world records and winning medals. She competed in Sochi in 2014 but did not medal. An NBC Olympics profile noted that Bowe is dating Dutch speedskater Manon Kamminga. “It’s nice being with somebody that has the same passion, same drive, same goals,” Bowe said. “It’s obviously difficult living on different sides of the world. But we’re both focused on our goal.”

Gus Kenworthy (U.S., slopestyle free skiing): Easily the most publicized LGBT athlete of the Olympics, Kenworthy (a 2014 silver medalist) is a strong medal contender. He has gotten numerous endorsements and is one of NBC’s faces of the Games.

Adam Rippon (U.S., figure skating): The “old man” of the U.S. skating team at 28, Rippon jokes that he is proud of his “sons” Nathan Chen (18) and Vincent Zhou (17). Rippon came out in 2015 and proudly wears the banner of being the first publicly gay figure skater. His social media is acerbic and witty and must-follow.

These games mark the first time there will be openly gay men competing in the Winter Olympics.

According to OutSports, the number of out Olympians tops the seven from the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. In contrast, there were 56 out Olympians at the much larger Summer Olympics in 2016.

Note: there well may be other LGBTQ athletes at the Olympics this season, but this list only includes those who have publicly acknowledged being out.

Thanks to OutSports!

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Gay Olympians At Opening Ceremony: “We’re Here, We’re Queer, Get Used To It”

History was made today as freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy and figure skater Adam Rippon took part in the opening ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics as the two first openly gay U.S. athletes to ever qualify for the Winter Games.

Entering the Olympic stadium with Team USA, the athletes shared several Twitter shots of themselves at the ceremony, hugging and beaming huge smiles.

“We’re here. We’re queer. Get used to it,” Kenworthy tweeted from the event.

Go get’em, boys!

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News Round-Up: February 8, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• A little #TBT action: two years ago today we were all kinda in awe of Super Bowl referee Clete Blakeman (above) whose biceps made him one of the most jacked guys on the field.

• The Netflix reboot of Queer Eye launched last night with members of the new and original cast taking part in the premiere. Hard to believe it’s been 15 years since the original Emmy Award-winning series made it’s bow in 2003.

• Gay porn star Topher DiMaggio has been suspended as a “trophy boy” for Andrew Christian fashion label as two more allegations of sexual assault have been made. That brings the total to five different accusers.

• Walgreens has changed its national bathroom policy after a lesbian in Los Angeles was told she couldn’t use the ladies room because she looked like a man. The new policy will allow people to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

• Gold star Trump supporter Scott Baio is facing new allegations from another “Charles in Charge” co-star.

• Power producer Ryan Murphy just got a two-season straight-to-series order from Netflix for The Politician which will star Tony Award winner Ben Platt. Barbra Streisand and Gwyneth Paltrow are in talks to co-star. Platt will play a wealthy Santa Barbara resident running for public office. And yes, Platt will have musical numbers in the series.

• Cosmopolitan invited several hunky U.S. Olympic athletes heading to Pyeongchang for the Winter Games to recite really cheesy pick-up lines as they gave a little peek at their well-toned bodies.

I think out freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy scored the best moment with his line: “I wanted the gold medal in Sochi, but I settled for silver because I want to make sure you come first.” Watch below.

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Gus Kenworthy: VP Mike Pence “Seems Like A Bad Fit” To Lead Olympic Delegation

Via The Hill:

Freeskier Gus Kenworthy, one of the first two openly gay male athletes to represent the U.S. in the Winter Olympics, told Ellen DeGeneres that he things Vice President Pence is a “bad fit” to lead the U.S. delegation to Pyeongchang, South Korea, this month.

Kenworthy’s comments echoed those of figure skater Adam Rippon, who has harshly criticized Pence and the Trump administration in general over their treatment of LGBTQ rights. Rippon, who is also openly gay, was named to the Olympic team just weeks before Kenworthy.

“[Pence] seems like such a strange choice,” Kenworthy said Monday on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

“To have somebody leading the delegation that’s directly attacked the LGBTQ community, and a Cabinet in general that just sort of stands against us and has tried to do things to set us back, it just seems like a bad fit.”

Pence has a long history of opposing LGBT rights and supporting anti-LGBT legislation. He’s encouraged funding for so-called “conversion therapy,” signed legislation that would allow discrimination against LGBTs into law, opposed allowing gays in the military and same-sex marriage.

Watch his chat with Ellen below.

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Podcast: Out Olympians Not Happy With VP Mike Pence; 2 More Men Allege Sexual Assault By Porn Actor

In this week’s podcast:

• Olympic slopestyle skier Gus Kenworthy isn’t keen on Vice President Mike Pence leading the US delegation at the 2018 Winter Olympics

• Sir Ian McKellen celebrates the 30th anniversary of his coming out

• Two more men have come out accusing porn actor Topher DiMaggio of sexual assault. Is this a case of “he said/he said?”

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

Note: If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, here are just a few of the resources available to help.
RAINN
The Anti-Violence Project
The Human Rights Campaign

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“Powder, Puppies & Pride” – Nightline Interviews Out U.S. Olympian Gus Kenworthy

U.S. Olympian Gus Kenworthy

Terrific profile of out U.S. Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy by ABC News’ Nightline.

Props to Larry at TheOUTFront for the heads up 🙂

In the interview (below) Gus discusses the coming out process, why he waited until after the Sochi Games to come out, his fears of losing sponsorships, the impact he hoped to make on young LGBTs, and how all that affected his skiing.

I’ve only heard great things about Gus and definitely looking forward to cheering for him at the games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

You’ll be able to watch the events for all of Team USA at the Winter Olympics beginning February 9. You can watch on the Games on NBC and its affiliated networks like NBCSN, MSNBC, NBC Universo, Telemundo, and CNBC.

And, in case you’re wondering, Gus is currently off the market as he’s been dating actor Matt Wilkas for some time now.

In addition to being a world-class skier, he’s got terrific taste in boyfriends.

Gus’ boyfriend is hottie Matt Wilkas
#Woof

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on Jul 21, 2017 at 5:46pm PDT

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on Jan 1, 2016 at 10:53am PST

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Gus Kenworthy Agrees With US Figure Skater Adam Rippon On VP Mike Pence’s Olympic Role

Gus Kenworthy qualifies for 2018 Winter Olympics

Out Olympic athlete Gus Kenworthy has responded to fellow Team USA Olympian, figure skater Adam Rippon, who recently questioned the wisdom of Vice President Pence leading the Olympic delagation into the 2018 Winter Games.

Pence has a notoriously anti-LGBT history as governor of Indiana and a congressman.

From LGBTQ Nation:

“I actually found out about it from Adam Rippon’s quote about it,” he told USA Today. “I feel the same way as him. I think it’s not the person I would have expected, and I think it sends mixed messages because this is the first time we’re seeing out U.S. Olympic athletes competing in the Winter Olympics, and then we have someone leading the delegation that doesn’t support that, and doesn’t support the LGBT community, and has spoken against it. I think it doesn’t send the right message. It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.”

“I think that I’ve gotten to live authentically and share who I really am with my family and friends. It’s made me feel so comfortable,” he said. “I think that it’s showcased in my skiing. I feel so free and liberated and it’s one last thing I have to think about, about being in the closet and worrying about outing myself. My skiing has benefited from that, from being free.”

“The fact that I am out, I think it’s going to warrant me having a better time in Korea, and really getting to experience it,” he added. “When you’re in the closet, you can’t enjoy anything quite as much. I don’t think I had the Olympics experience I was hoping for, and now that I’m out, I’m going to really take it all in and have such a better time.”

Kenworthy has become the face of gay US Olympians having come out in 2015 after winning a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Games.

He will be competing in his second Olympic games in slopestyle skiing.

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Ralph Lauren Unveils Team USA’s 2018 Winter Olympic Uniforms

2018 US Winter Olympian Gus Kenworthy

Since 2008, fashion designer Ralph Lauren has outfitted Team USA for the Olympics and Paralympics.

With the 2018 Winter Games just weeks away, RL unveiled his designs today for the opening and closing ceremony uniforms.

This year’s designs include “wearable heating technology.”

From USA Today:

Roundly mocked in 2014 for a chaotic, patchwork cardigan sweater, the brand went classic red, white and blue this time around for the opening ceremony and white for the closing parade of athletes in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Both have a cozy bit of technology built in to keep athletes extra warm.

Athletes will be treated to stretchy skinny jeans and a far less busily designed sweater for opening, with a stretch knit pant — think structured sweat pant — for closing. The jeans have moto-inspired seaming. Accessories include a navy wool ski hat and USA-themed navy bandanna. On the athletes’ feet will be brown suede mountaineering boots with red laces for the outdoor opening.

And then there are the gloves. They’re more Ralph than Ralph himself, a Western style in suede with fringe in rawhide brown and decorated in hand-beaded Olympic rings and an American flag. They’re lined in white and fit over the wrists. Warm, yes. Yee haw! Lasso not included.

Check out the new Team USA uniforms below.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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Out Skier Gus Kenworthy Clinches Spot On 2018 Winter Olympic Team

With a second-place finish at today’s Men’s Freeski Slopestyle Finals, Gus Kenworthy clinched his spot on the 2018 U.S. Winter Olympic team.

He’s the second openly gay man to represent the U.S. in Winter Olympics (he won silver in the 2014 Sochi Olympics but wasn’t out at the time), and is the first out gay man to compete in an action sport.

Kenworthy also won the Slopestyle Finals last week at Snowmass in Colorado.

Kenworthy famously came out in 2015 to ESPN Magazine. I’ve written about Gus extensively – check out past posts here.

He’s currently featured in a new commercial for Head & Shoulders (I posted a week ago here) and named as a brand ambassador for Proctor & Gamble.

He’s currently ranked fifth among Americans in International Ski Federation rankings.

Gus joins figure skater Adam Rippon, who was named to the U.S. figure skating team last week barely beating Gus as the first openly gay man to make a U.S. Winter Olympic team.

The hunky, handsome Kenworthy is definitely worthy of a follow on his Instagram account 🙂

Good luck in South Korea, Gus!

I'M GOING BACK TO THE OLYMPICS!!! 🇺🇲🏳️‍🌈A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on Jan 21, 2018 at 6:32pm PST

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on Jul 5, 2017 at 5:28pm PDT
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Podcast: America’s 1st Out Winter Olympian, Possible Once-A-Week HIV Pill On The Horizon, Bette Midler Says “So Long” To Hello, Dolly!

In this week’s Randy Report podcast:

• America has it’s first openly gay Winter Olympian – figure skater Adam Rippon

• The Human Rights Campaign released its annual report ranking state LGBT rights and protections

• A possible once a week pill for HIV patients looks promising in testing studies

• A Wisconsin school district is dropping its challenge to a transgender student’s lawsuit for bathroom privileges

• Woofy out Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy stars in a new Head & Shoulders commercial touting all kinds of pride

• Bette Midler says “So long, dearie” to Hello, Dolly! on Broadway

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report